Chapter 10—Calvary
They hurried Jesus away with loud shouts of triumph; but their
noise ceased for a time when they passed a retired place, and saw at the
foot of a lifeless tree the dead body of Judas, who had betrayed Christ.
It was a most revolting spectacle; his weight had broken the cord by
which he had hung himself to the tree, and, in falling, his body had
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become horribly mangled, and was then being devoured by dogs. The
mutilated remains were ordered to be buried at once, and the crowd
passed on; but there was less noisy mockery, and many a pale face
revealed the fearful thoughts within. Retribution seemed already to be
visiting those who were guilty of the blood of Jesus.
By this time the news of the condemnation of Jesus had spread
through all Jerusalem, striking terror and anguish to thousands of
hearts, but bringing a malicious joy to many who had been reproved by
the teachings of the Saviour. The priests had been bound by a promise
not to molest any of his disciples if Jesus were delivered up to them; so
all classes of people flocked to the scene of outrage, and Jerusalem was
left almost empty. Nicodemus, and Joseph of Arimathea, had not been
summoned to the Sanhedrim council, and their voices had nothing to
do with condemning Jesus. They were present at his crucifixion, but
unable to change or modify his terrible sentence.
The disciples and believers from the region round about joined the
throng that followed Jesus to Calvary. The mother of Jesus was also
there, supported by John, the beloved disciple. Her heart was stricken
with unutterable anguish; yet she, with the disciples, hoped that the
painful scene would change, and Jesus would assert his power, and
appear before his enemies as the Son of God. Then again her mother’s
heart would sink as she remembered words in which he had briefly
referred to the things which were that day being enacted.
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Jesus had scarcely passed the gate of Pilate’s house when the cross
which had been prepared for Barabbas was brought out and laid upon
his bruised and bleeding shoulders. Crosses were also placed upon the
companions of Barabbas, who were to suffer death at the same time
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